Tuesday, April 29, 2008

La Bague Gazon / HUH

In honour of the one-week anniversary of Earth Day 2008, here's the heart-warming story of how a grass ring is made when it's made by La Bague Gazon of France. This particular model, in porcelain with platinated rim, is €100.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Berit Rother / Natasha Kahn

This is great. I need more rings that remind me to do those things I'm supposed to do but always put off, like check the air in my tires (watch out for those nails!). Maybe, if I ask nicely, Germany's Berit Rother will do a "flip the mattress" piece for me, too. Check out her site for lots of other styles, like these gnarled branches:

Bonus link: for non-gnarled branches of bamboo, visit Miami's Natasha Kahn (no, not the Natasha Kahn of Bat for Lashes). US$80 for silver or $415 for gold.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Changing gears from yesterday, let's revel in some minimalism. German minimalism, to be precise. Pictured above: U-rings by Daniela Schwaag of Idar-Oberstein (Germany's gemstone capital) and pearl rings by Munich's Isabella Hund.

France just called me, feeling left out, so here's a "constellation" ring by Mathilde Seguin of Paris:

Now Portugal's emailing me with pouty emoticons. Ok, Portugal, here's some minimalist work by your Ana Albuquerque of Meet Jewelry:

All right, that's it. Rest of western Europe, I'll have to get to you some other day.

Bonus link: not all German jewellers are about minimalism, of course. Some are about jasper and white gold ape mermaids, like Otto Jakob.

By the way, if you're interested in indie crafts, check out Indiefixx! Jen Wallace of Wilmington, NC runs a great, informative blog with weekly features such as an interview series. Thanks to Jen for inviting me to be this week's subject! (If you read the interview: for the record, I know someone who claims that egg thing DID happen to her, and with a free range egg, which is what I buy. Eep.)

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Nora Fok / Dominique Labordery

Who knew nylon could be so... natural? Inspired by nature and botanical structures, England's Nora Fok creates incredible pieces of jewellery out of nylon filaments, using only her hands and basic tools. Unsurprisingly, her complicated pieces often take weeks to bloom  just like nature. More below:

Bonus link: for an entirely different take on flowers, see these tulip-petal rings from Düsseldorf-based Belgian jeweller Dominique Labordery.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Cynosure Jewelry / Hiroko Miyamoto

Shannon Kennedy and Juan Bohorquez of Kitchener, Ontario's Cynosure Jewelry "strive to expand the realm of what is normally considered jewellery." This case of rings is a case in point: in "City Scape," the jewellery becomes inseparable from its display as the collection as a whole is labelled a "wall installation."

Bonus link: for more wearable combinations of wood and silver, see Barcelona-based Japanese jeweller Hiroko Miyamoto.

Friday, April 18, 2008

UBO (Ursula Bonderer) / Christy Klug

How many rings can fit in a flat clamshell box?

Six and counting. The black rubber "practical ring set"  which comes with assembly instructions and is also available in white silicone  is just one of many designs from Germany's UBO (by Ursula Bonderer).

Bonus link: for more black rings and other jewellery, see the oxidized sterling pieces of Austin's Christy Klug; this ring is US$220.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Catherine Chandler / Harriet Potts

Some more insect-inspired rings, this time from Portland, Oregon's Catherine Chandler. Her "wing," "antennae" and "larvae" rings are based on the Bathurst Copper butterfly, an endangered species native to a small area in New South Wales, Australia (where she studied for four years).

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

J.W. Anderson (Jonathan William Anderson) / Janna Syvänoja

We go from frogs to frog food  insects, that is. The drama in these pieces is no accident: London-based, Irish-born Jonathan William Anderson studied at the Actor's Studio (where he discovered a love for stage costumes), is influenced by the "sinister" in literature and has a lifelong fascination with Elizabeth I. In these striking rings, "a normally eerie insect is embalmed and becomes a natural jewel," resulting in jewellery filled with "grandeur and heaviness."

Bonus link: another ring featuring a "natural jewel" from the insect world is this wasp's nest ring by Finland's Janna Syvänoja.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Markéta Richterová / Dawes Design

I like to pace myself when it comes to posting my favourite jewellers but, sometimes, I can't stop myself from sneaking in an extra one or two  especially when they can be linked in some way, such as the two designers I have in mind now, who are both from the Czech Republic. Today, though, let's go one at a time. First off is Markéta Richterová, who creates bold pieces in carbon, acrylic, crystal and silver (and even ice). Pictured up top is a ring from her "organic" collection (below it, because I couldn't resist, is a pair of earrings). Tune in next week for designer number two!

Bonus link: throw "one at a time" out the window when it comes to California's Dawes Design, who specializes in rings worn stacked, in multiples.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Mirla Fernandes / Cristina Aabdo

I'm guessing Mirla Fernandes never coloured within the lines as a kid. This ring  all two to three feet of it  is from the Brazilian artist's "Longing for the Body" series, a collection of latex pieces meant to be "completed by the user."

Bonus link: also from Brazil is Cristina Aabdo, whose pretty rings are made from more conventional materials like gold and quartz.

Monday, April 07, 2008

Fafafa / Ellen Burr

I love these faceted chunks of bright resin so much, I just don't have the words. I may have to resort to interpretive dance. These latest faves of mine are by Vibe Harsløf, the Danish designer behind Fafafa.

Bonus link: perhaps California musician Ellen Burr can accompany me on stage  with her jewellery made from flute parts! This "offset" ring is US$185.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Teri Howes / Twisted Silver

Ah, Spirograph. I always managed to ruin my designs with a single jerky pen stroke (those darn plastic cogs!) but I bet Teri Howes's drawings turned out perfectly every time. Now, the trained graphic artist translates those designs into fabulous silver jewellery, like this "spirograph" ring (above, right). Also pictured is a ring from her "urban jungle" line; be sure to view the rest of that range and her other collections, as well! If you're in London (like the artist), see them in person at the Tate Modern.

Bonus link: for a great trove of spirographic rings, check out California's Twisted Silver; pictured is their brass "vibe" ring, US$40.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Benjamin Lignel / Ring Leader

Getting married? In the next few minutes? If you don't have time for pesky details like getting your ring sized, French designer Benjamin Lignel has the perfect solution: instant wedding rings! Just open the pack, pull out a strip and twist the ring before you tie the knot. Like so:

Bonus link: here's something a bit more permanent. This band with "Until Death Do Us Part" in inverted letters comes with an ink pad so you can stamp the message where you like. By the UK's Ring Leader.

About Me

Hi! Visit the shop at thecarrotbox.com and get the full version of the blog at thecarrotbox.com/news! I stopped putting a full copy of the blog here because I think Google thought I was some copycat weirdo.